Pick-up vehicle having a swivel device and swivel device for loading and unloading the pick-up vehicle

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a pick-up vehicle, a swivel device for use in a pick-up vehicle for loading and unloading. The pick-up vehicle includes a swivel device including at least one swivel arm having a curved and/or bent section along its length. A swivel axis of the swivel device is located between the rear wall and wheel wells and includes swivel arms located on both sides of the cargo bed. The at least one connecting bridge is positioned to couple swivel arms to form a swivel yoke. Swivel device includes two swivel axes located one behind the other at a same height relative to the cargo bed, such that a swivel arm is swivelably coupled around one of the two swivel axes, and the swivel arms are coupled together through the at least one movable connection piece, thereby forming a parallelogram-like swivel arm structure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/464,445 filed Dec. 16, 1999, which claimspriority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Swiss Patent Application No. 2498/98dated Dec. 17, 1998 and Swiss Patent Application No. 1589/99 dated Aug.31, 1999, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated byreference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a pick-up vehicle having an opencargo bed connected to a passenger cab in which the cargo bed includesor is defined by side walls, a rear wall, and wheel wells located insideor outside of the cargo bed. The invention also relates to a swiveldevice for loading and unloading the pick-up vehicle.

[0004] 2. Discussion of Background Information

[0005] Pick-up vehicles, e.g., road vehicles having a passenger cabconnected to a cargo bed separated from the vehicle chassis, includeside walls and a rear wall. The loading of pick-up vehicles can presentproblems when loads which cannot be lifted, either over the side wallsor into the cargo bed through an opened rear wall, by hand. Sincepick-up vehicles are being used more frequently as recreationalvehicles, also called SUVs (sport utility vehicles), it would bebeneficial to be able to load them with, e.g., all-terrain motorcyclesor small watercraft without problems. When loading motorcycles, e.g.,ramps can be used, however, this may require considerable dexterity andpose a certain safety hazard when the motorcycle is driven onto theramp. Of course, when loading watercraft, the ramp option is notavailable. Moreover, the loading of other loads by hand can also beproblematic.

[0006] Swivel devices for onloading, offloading, and tilting oftrough-shaped containers are known, e.g., for use with trucks andconstruction vehicles. For trucks, two lateral swivel arms are generallyprovided which are respectively swivelably linked with one end behindthe truck chassis. Further, the swivel arms can have a holding devicefor a load-bearing device, e.g., chains or wire cable at their free end,which device can be attached to the hopper to be onloaded or offloaded.During onloading, the hopper is deposited or positioned on transverse orlongitudinal supports of the truck chassis. The swiveling motion of theswivel arms is generally achieved by hydraulically activatedpiston/cylinder arrangements which are fastened to the chassis and tothe respective swivel arm. Swiss Patent Application No. CH-A-546 657discloses, e.g., a swivel device for a truck, and European PatentApplication No. EP-A-0 337 678 discloses, e.g., a construction vehiclehaving a swivel device for hoppers, in which the hoppers are likewiselaterally received on swivel arms. A bridge that connects the swivelarms to an additional holding element serves to hold the hopper in afixed position, which is arranged on the swivel arms when this hopper istilted.

[0007] With such known swivel/tilt devices, a large height in the reststate results which is not objectionable for trucks and specialtyvehicles, i.e., construction vehicles, but which by contrast isunacceptable for road vehicles such as pick-up vehicles because thesevehicles should also be able to negotiate residential and commercialgarages as well as wash stations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention provides a simple option for loading evenbulky and/or heavy loads onto a pick-up vehicle without diminishing thevehicle's suitability as a normal road vehicle.

[0009] Thus, the present invention is directed to a pick-up vehiclesimilar in general to that discussed above, which also includes a swiveldevice for loading and unloading of the vehicle. The swivel deviceincludes at least one swivel arm which is laterally arranged in thecargo bed, and a swivel axis of the swivel device is arranged betweenthe end of the cargo bed, i.e., the rear wall, and the wheel wells. Theswivel arm also includes at least one bent or curved section along itslength.

[0010] Using the swivel device of the instant invention for loading andunloading a pick-up vehicle allows for effortless loading and unloadingby depositing a load on the ground behind the vehicle or on the cargobed, and for a reduction in the height at the rest position through thecurvature of or bend in the swivel arms, which renders the pick-upvehicle more roadworthy.

[0011] Further, the present invention provides a swivel device for thepick-up vehicle which ensures good loadability of the vehicle withoutimpairing the use of the vehicle as a road vehicle. In this regard, theswivel device includes at least one swivel arm which is laterallyarranged in the cargo bed, and a swivel axis of the swivel device isarranged between the end of the cargo bed, i.e., the rear wall, and thewheel wells. The swivel arm also includes at least one bent or curvedsection along its length.

[0012] The bowed or bent swivel arms of the swivel arms enables theswivel device to be arranged on a pick-up vehicle without significantlyincreasing height of such a vehicle. Moreover, the swivel device allowsfor simple loading and unloading of the pick-up vehicle.

[0013] Further still, the present invention is directed to a process inwhich a pick-up vehicle can be simply loaded and unloaded withoutlimiting the suitability of the vehicle as a road vehicle. In thisregard, a loading and unloading motion of the process includes swivelingof the swivel arm.

[0014] The present invention is directed to a pick-up vehicle having anopen cargo bed coupled to a passenger cab, side walls, a rear wall, andwheel wells located one of inside and outside of the cargo bed. Thepick-up vehicle includes a swivel device adapted for loading andunloading the open cargo bed, in which the swivel device includes atleast one swivel arm, at least one connecting bridge, and at least onemovable connection piece. A swivel axis of the swivel device is locatedbetween the rear wall and the wheel wells, and the at least one swivelarm includes swivel arms located on both sides of the cargo bed. The atleast one connecting bridge is positioned to couple the swivel arms toform a swivel yoke. The swivel device includes two swivel axes locatedone behind the other in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and at asame height relative to the cargo bed, and a swivel arm is swivelablycoupled around one of the two swivel axes, and the swivel arms arecoupled together through the at least one movable connection piece,thereby forming a parallelogram-like swivel arm structure.

[0015] In accordance with a feature of the invention, the swivel yoke ina resting position forms a roll bar for the passenger cab.

[0016] According to another feature, at least one load uptake device canbe couplable to the movable connection piece. Further, at least onerigid suspension may be provided. The at least one load uptake devicecomprises a platform, and the at least one rigid suspension rigidlycouples the platform to the movable connection piece.

[0017] According to still another feature of the invention, the swivelaxes may lie essentially on a plane of the cargo bed.

[0018] Further, the swivel axes can lie beneath a plane of the cargobed. Still further, at least one of the swivel axes can be raisedcompared to the cargo bed.

[0019] The at least one swivel arm can include one of a curved and bentsection along its length. The at least one swivel arm includes astraight section, and the one of a curved and bent section is formed bythe connection piece.

[0020] In accordance with another feature of the invention, the at leastone swivel arm may include a straight section along its length.

[0021] The present invention is directed to a swivel device for loadingand unloading a pick-up vehicle, the pick-up vehicle having an opencargo bed coupled to a passenger cab, side walls, a rear wall, and wheelwells located one of inside and outside of the cargo bed. The swiveldevice includes at least one swivel arm, at least one connecting bridge,and at least one movable connection piece. A swivel axis of the swiveldevice is adapted to be located between the rear wall and the wheelwells, and the at least one swivel arm includes swivel arms located onboth sides of the cargo bed, and the at least one connecting bridge ispositioned to couple the swivel arms to form a swivel yoke. The swiveldevice includes two swivel axes located one behind the other in alongitudinal direction of the vehicle and at a same height relative tothe cargo bed, such that a swivel arm is swivelably coupled around thetwo swivel axes, and the swivel arms are coupled together through the atleast one movable connection piece, thereby forming a parallelogram-likeswivel arm structure.

[0022] According to a feature of the instant invention, the swiveldevice can further include an hydraulic, electric, pneumatic, orhand-activated drive for swiveling of the swivel yoke.

[0023] Further, at least one load uptake device may be couplable to themovable connection piece. Further still, at least one rigid suspensionis provided, and the at least one load uptake device may include aplatform, and the at least one rigid suspension may rigidly couple theplatform to the movable connection piece.

[0024] In accordance with the invention, a support bracket can beadapted to lie on the cargo bed and to provide the swivel axis.

[0025] Further, the swivel axis may be located about a portion of achassis of the pickup vehicle.

[0026] Still further, the at least one swivel arm may include alongitudinally adjustable lifting arm.

[0027] The at least one swivel arm may include one of a curved and bentsection along its length. The at least one swivel arm can include astraight section, and the one of a curved and bent section may be formedby the connection piece.

[0028] The at least one swivel arm can include a straight section alongits length.

[0029] The present invention is directed to a pick-up vehicle having anopen cargo bed coupled to a passenger cab, side walls, a rear wall, andwheel wells located one of inside and outside of the cargo bed. Thepick-up vehicle includes a swivel device comprising at least four swivelarms swivelably coupled to a support device at first ends, a connectingbridge positioned to couple at least two of the four swivel arms at endsopposite the first ends, which forms a swivelable yoke, two connectionpieces for coupling the swivelable yoke to the other swivel arms at theends opposite the first ends, and at least one load uptake device beingrigidly coupled to the two connection pieces. The swivel arms areswivelably positionable around swivel axes between a rest position inwhich the swivel arms are substantially over the cargo bed and anextended position in which the arms extend out of the cargo bed in adirection of the rear wall, and the swivel axes are located one behindthe other and at same heights relative to the cargo bed.

[0030] In accordance with the invention, the support device can bepositioned above a plane of the cargo bed, or positioned below a planeof the cargo bed, or positioned on a plane of the cargo bed.

[0031] A second connecting bridge can be positioned to couple the otherswivel arms together at ends opposite the first ends, thereby forming asecond swivelable yoke. At least one of the two connection pieces may bearranged to couple the swivelable yoke to the second swivelable yoke atthe ends opposite the first ends, and the swivelable yoke and the secondswivelable yoke can be swivelably positionable between a rest positionin which the swivel arms are substantially over the cargo bed and anextended position in which the swivel arms extend out of the cargo bedin a direction of the rear wall.

[0032] According to another feature of the present invention, at leasttwo of the swivel arms can include one of a curved and bent sectionalong its length.

[0033] In accordance with still another feature, at least two of theswivel arms may include a straight section, and the connection piece caninclude one of a curved and bent section.

[0034] Further still, at least two of the swivel arms may include astraight section along its length.

[0035] The present invention is directed to a pick-up vehicle having anopen cargo bed coupled to a passenger cab, side walls, a rear wall, andwheel wells located one of inside and outside of the cargo bed. Thepick-up vehicle includes a swivel device having at least four swivelarms swivelably coupled to support devices at first ends, wherein the atleast four swivel arms are formed into at least two pairs swivelablearound swivel axes, at least one connecting bridge positioned to coupleat least one of the at least two pairs of swivel arms at ends oppositethe first ends, which forms at least one swivelable yoke, at least twoconnections for coupling the at least one swivelable yoke to the otherpair of swivel arms at the ends opposite the first ends, and at leastone load uplifting device being rigidly coupled to the at least twoconnections. The at least one swivelable yoke and the other pair ofswivel arms are swivelably positionable between a rest position in whichthe swivel arms are substantially over the cargo bed and an extendedposition in which the swivel arms extend out of the cargo bed in adirection of the rear wall, and the swivel axes are horizontally spacedfrom each and arranged at same heights relative to the cargo bed.

[0036] Further, the at least one connecting bridge comprises at leasttwo connecting bridges can be positioned to couple the at least twopairs of swivel arms at ends opposite the first ends, which forms atleast two swivelable yokes, and at least two connections for couplingthe two swivelable yokes together at the ends opposite the first ends.The at least two swivelable yokes may be swivelably positionable betweena rest position in which the swivel arms are substantially over thecargo bed and an extended position in which the swivel arms extend outof the cargo bed in a direction of the rear wall.

[0037] According to the invention, the at least four swivel arms caninclude straight sections.

[0038] In accordance with another feature, the at least four swivel armsmay include at least one of bent and curved sections.

[0039] In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention,at least two of the at least four swivel arms may include a straightsection, and the at least two connections may include one of a curvedand bent section.

[0040] Other exemplary embodiments and advantages of the presentinvention may be ascertained by reviewing the present disclosure and theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] The present invention is further described in the detaileddescription which follows, in reference to the noted plurality ofdrawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention, in which like reference numerals represent similarparts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:

[0042]FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic, diagrammatic view of an exemplaryembodiment of a swivel device coupled to a pick-up vehicle;

[0043]FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic side view of the pick-up vehicledepicted in FIG. 1;

[0044]FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic, diagrammatic view of anotherembodiment of the swivel device coupled to a partially depicted pick-upvehicle;

[0045]FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic side view of the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 3;

[0046] FIGS. 5A-5E illustrates schematic side views of swivel arms;

[0047]FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic, diagrammatic view of anotherembodiment in which the swivel arms are connected to two parallelograms;and

[0048]FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic side view of the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0049] The particulars shown herein are by way of example and forpurposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the presentinvention only and are presented in the cause of providing what isbelieved to be the most useful and readily understood description of theprinciples and conceptual aspects of the present invention. In thisregard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the presentinvention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamentalunderstanding of the present invention, the description taken with thedrawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the severalforms of the present invention may be embodied in practice.

[0050]FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic partial view of a pick-up vehicle 1in which a passenger cab 2 is only partially depicted. Pick-up vehicle 1also includes a cargo bed 3 that includes or is defined by side walls 4and 5 and rear wall 6. Rear wall 6 is depicted in an opened position,and can be lifted or swung upwardly so to close the cargo bed. Rear wall6 can also be totally downwardly foldable. In the exemplary embodiment,wheel wells 7 and 8 can project into bed 3 of pick-up vehicle 1.However, wheel wells 7 and 8 can also be arranged as fenders outside theactual cargo bed, e.g., if the bed is correspondingly narrower, or thewheels are arranged with correspondingly wider fenders outside ofvehicle 1. In FIG. 1, a swivel device having two swivel arms 10 and 11is schematically depicted in a rest position. In the exemplaryembodiment, a bridge 12, which extends cross-wise (laterally) to the avehicle longitudinal axis, can be utilized to connect ends of swivelarms 10 and 11 to each other to form a U-shaped swivel yoke. In thedepicted embodiment, the ends of swivel arms 10 and 11 opposite theswivel yoke can be coupled to axial elements 20 and 21 which form arotational axis for the swivel yoke. Axial elements 20 and 21 can herebybe respectively accepted in a support bracket, of which only supportbracket 23 is depicted in FIG. 1 in dashed lines. The construction ofthe swivel support is known to those ordinarily skilled in the art, and,therefore, need not be discussed further here. Support bracket 23 can befixed on an upper side of the cargo bed or on a lower side of the cargobed. Thus, if necessary, the cargo bed can be reinforced at theselocations with plates or braces. Arrow F shows a swiveling motionbetween the rest position, in which bridge 12 of the support yoke liesnear or adjacent cab 2, and a load uptake position, in which the supportyoke is swung away from cab 2 into a ready position to accept a load.

[0051]FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional side view of pick-up vehicle 1 inwhich side wall 5 and swivel arm 11 are not depicted, so as to moreclearly depict side wall 4, the motion of swivel arm, which is depictedin the rest position as swivel arm 10 and in the load position as swivelarm 10′, and swivel axis 20. Otherwise, same reference characters areused identifying identical parts from FIG. 1.

[0052] A loading platform 25 can be preferably fastened to load contactpoints 13 (see FIG. 1) of swivel arms 10 and 11 via chains or wirecables 28 and 29. In the exemplary embodiment, load contact points 13can be formed by bridge 12, which connects the ends of swivel arms 10and 11. However, if bridge 12 is not provided, which results in swivelarms 10 and 11 not being connected to one another, the load can beaccepted at these free ends of swivel arms 10 and 11. Platform 25facilitates simple loading of the cargo bed with, e.g, a motorcycle,which can be driven onto the platform when the platform is placed on theground behind pick-up vehicle 1, as schematically illustrates in FIG. 2.After the load is arranged on the platform, the load (and platform) canbe loaded by swiveling the swivel device forward to the cab 2 into thebed 3 of the pick-up vehicle. For unloading, the process is performed bya swivel motion to the rear. Of course, instead of platform 25 anotherelement can be provided which can accept a load, or the load can beattached directly to the swivel arms or the bridge, i.e., without aplatform or auxiliary element, with, e.g., ropes or chains, and can beloaded into bed 3 by swiveling the swivel device.

[0053] Driving of the swivel device for loading or unloading swivelingmovements can be effected in basically known manner, e.g., with ahydraulic piston/cylinder arrangement coupled between bed 3 (or thevehicle chassis) and the respective swivel arm. Such an arrangement isroughly schematically indicated by arrow B in FIG. 1. The arrangement ofsuch a drive is known to those ordinarily skilled in the art, and,therefore, need not be discussed further here. Further, instead of suchthe known hydraulic piston/cylinder arrangement drive, a pneumaticallydriven piston/cylinder arrangement could also be provided. In bothcases, the hydraulic or pneumatic pressure can be created by a pumpwhich is either connected to a motor drive of the vehicle or to its ownmotor, which is independent of the vehicle motor, e.g., an electricmotor coupled to the vehicle battery. Moreover, instead of apiston/cylinder arrangement drive, an electric motor drive could beprovided which, e.g., via a toothed gear arranged on axial element 20and an electric motor provided with a worm gear, drives swivel arms 10and 11 directly from the region of the swivel axis. Control andoperation of the swivel motion or of the corresponding drive can beperformed by a control and operation unit which can be arranged, e.g.,in the passenger cab or in the bed of the vehicle. Such a control andoperation unit can have, e.g., an infrared or radio control so that theswivel device can be operated at some distance from the vehicle.

[0054] In the example shown, swivel arms 10 and 11 are bent, with afirst section 14 or 16 of respective swivel arm 10 or 11 extending fromrotational axis 20 or 21. However, after first section 14 or 16, swivelarms 10 and 11 are bent to form respective bent sections 15 or 17. Asshown in the exemplary illustration, the bending of swivel arms 10 and11 decreases the height of swivel arms 10 and 11, i.e., when they arearranged in the rest position, from where they would extend if straight.The elevation of the end of swivel arms 10 and 11, or bridge 12, ifprovided, can be varied by the location of the bend and by the choice ofangle α. It is preferable for the elevation of the swivel arm ends, orthe swivel yoke to lie approximately at the height of the upper edge ofthe passenger cab. Of course, a slightly higher rest position or adeeper rest position can also be chosen. In the exemplary embodiment,swivel arms 10 and 11 can be connected in their rest position to aswivel yoke that projects over the cab roof, so that the swivel deviceforms a roll bar for the passenger cab. In this manner, a support 40 maybe preferably provided which is coupled, e.g., to the vehicle chassis toprovide a fixed support for the swivel yoke in the rest position.

[0055] It is also contemplated that the swivel yoke or swivel arms 10and 11 can also be longitudinally adjustable to provide at least apartial telescopic motion of the swivel arm bent sections 15 and 17.Such an arrangement may be especially practical when the swivel deviceis provided as a retrofit element for an existing pick-up vehicle and,through this adjustability of the swivel arm length, the swivel devicecan be adaptable to a variety of vehicle types or lengths of cargo beds.Furthermore, an activation mechanism can be provided for rear wall 6 sothat rear wall 6 can automatically opens when the swivel device is swungout, or so that the rear wall closes when this swivel device is swungin.

[0056]FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate another embodiment of the instantinvention in which identical parts are identified with the samereference numerals. The swivel device depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4 isbasically similar to that depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that, whereFIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment that is well suited for retrofitting apick-up vehicle not equipped with a swivel device at the factory, FIGS.3 and 4 (and to some extent FIG. 2) illustrate an embodiment which couldbe preferably used for retrofitting a pick-up vehicle with a swiveldevice at the factory. As depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, the swivel axis forswivel arms 10 and 11 (or for the swivel yoke) can be arranged beneath asurface of cargo bed 3, so that cargo bed 3 can include recesses throughwhich swivel arms 10 and 11 of the swivel yoke can project. In thiscase, the rotational axis or axial elements 30 and 31, or possibly acontinuous axis or shaft, can be arranged on vehicle chassis 1represented only by the support. Since pick-up vehicles are generallyequipped with a separate chassis, e.g., a ladder frame chassis, not witha self-supporting body, the chassis can provide a stable linkage pointfor the swivel device, and which, as a rule, can allow loads heavierthan those utilized with the swivel device arrangement on bed 3, asshown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the drive for swivel arms 10 and 11preferably lies beneath cargo bed 3, and, e.g., can downwardly contactan extension of swivel arms 10 and 11, i.e., beneath the rotationalaxis. Such an arrangement is schematically depicted in FIG. 3 witharrows B. Other aspects discussed above with regard to FIGS. 1 and 2apply to the alternative exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0057] Moreover, FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of pick-up vehicle 1without side wall 5 and swivel arm 11, i.e., which depicts side wall 4and swivel arm 10. Swivel arm 10 and 10′ are depicted in this figure,such that swivel arm 10 is depicted the rest position, and swivel arm10′ in depicted in the swung-out position.

[0058] FIGS. 5A-5E, which illustrate alternative exemplary embodimentsof swivel arms 10 from a side view, utilize same reference numerals toidentify identical elements from the previous Figures. FIG. 5Aillustrates a swivel arm 10 where first a section 34 extends essentiallyvertically upwardly from swivel axis 20, and a contrastingly bent swivelarm portion 35 is arranged to extend to load uptake point 13. Sections36 and 37 are arranged to form braces, i.e., in the shape of a triangle.In a rough schematic depiction, three piston/cylinder arrangements areshown, e.g., to indicate where generally known drives could bepositioned for coupling to the swivel arms. Both of the uppermostdepicted drive arrangements can effect a backward swiveling by pushingthe swivel arm, and the bottommost depicted drive arrangement, whichlies below rotational axis 20, effects an outward swivel by pullingdownwardly on the extension of section 34, which is cut off in theillustration.

[0059]FIG. 5B illustrates another embodiment in which sections 36 and 37of the swivel arm are coupled to upwardly leading section 34. FIG. 5C,in contrast, illustrates an embodiment in which section 35 is coupled tosection 34. FIG. 5D illustrates an embodiment of swivel arm 10 havingsections 34 and 36. FIG. 5E illustrates an embodiment in which swivelarm 10 which, instead of being a bent swivel arm, is formed as a curvedswivel arm. In this embodiment, the height of swivel arm 10, in contrastto other swivel arm arrangements, can be decreased so that an overalllower height is obtained when used with a pick-up vehicle. Three swivelarm sections 37, 38, and 39 are depicted in the exemplary illustration.In a manner analogous to the other examples 5A-5D, it is possible, e.g.,to only provide swivel arm section 37, to only provide swivel armsections 38 and 39.

[0060]FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention,which is similar to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, in which theswivel axis is located beneath cargo bed 3. However, in this alternativeembodiment, two bent swivel arms are provided on each side of cargo bed3. Accordingly, the same reference numerals are used to identifyidentical elements. In FIG. 6, bed 3 is provided with swivel arms 40 and42 on one side, and swivel arms 41 and 43 on the other side. In thisembodiment, swivel arms 40 and 41 can be preferably coupled to oneanother via a bridge 45 to a first swivel yoke, and swivel arms 42 and43 can be preferably coupled to each other via bridge 46 to form asecond swivel yoke. Moreover, additional connections 47 and 48 can beprovided between bridges 45 and 46 (or between the first and secondswivel yokes), to form a parallelogram-like structure on each side ofthe bed 3. Connections 47 and 48, as shown in FIG. 6, can be rotatablycoupled to the first and second yokes (or arms 40 and 42 and arms 41 and43) to enable swiveling motion swivel arms 40-43. The configuration ofrotatable couplings for connections 47 and 48 to the bridges or arms canbe made in quite different manners which are evident to those ordinarilyskilled in the art, and, therefore, will not be discussed further here.The first and second swivel yokes, which formed from connecting swivelarms 40 and 41 through bridge 45, and from connecting swiveling arms 42and 43 through bridge 46, are each swivelably arranged about individualaxes which can be located above, at, below, or a combination thereof tothe plane of cargo bed 3. A swivel drive can also be provided for onlyone swivel arm on each side of cargo bed 3, or a swivel drive can beprovided for each swivel arm on each side of cargo bed 3. The load (notshown in FIG. 6), e.g., platform 25 depicted in FIG. 2, can be attachedto the double yoke structure with, e.g., two, four, or even more rigidsuspensions (such as rigid rods coupled at connections 47 and 48 and theload), or movable suspensions (such as chains fastened to bridges 45 and46 or to connections 47 and 48 and the load). Thus, the attachmentlocations of these suspensions to the swivel yokes can be positionallyfixed or positionally adjustable at the yoke. Through the provision of aplurality of suspensions, a stable attachment of the load is achieved,which to a large extent prevents swinging of the load.

[0061]FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of a pick-up vehicle that depictsside wall 4 and swivel arms 40 and 42 without showing side wall 5 orswivel arms 41 and 43. As shown in the Figure, swivel arms 40 and 41form a parallelogram-like structure with connection 47 at points 50 and51 and at swivel axes 52 and 53, as discussed above with regard to FIG.6. As with the other parts of swivel arms, connection 47 can be formedof, e.g., steel pipe having a circular, rectangular, square or othercross section. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7, swivel axes 52 and53 can be located above cargo bed 3 at various heights, as indicated bydashed line 54. However, swivel axes 52 and 53 could also lie at thesame height above or below cargo bed 3, at different heights below cargobed 3, or one above and one below cargo bed 3. In the instantembodiment, the bending of swivel arms 40 and 42 is created only byconnection 47 being “bent” in relation to the swivel arms to which it iscoupled. FIG. 7 shows three positions for the swivel arm arrangement: ina rest position as swivel arms 40 and 42 and connection 47; in anintermediate position as swivel arms 40′ and 42′ and connection 47′; andin an extended or loading position as swivel arms 40″ and 42″ andconnection 47″. Because of the parallelogram-like structure, connection47, 47′, and 47″ always remains in the same position with respect to asubstantially horizontal line 54 that extend through axes 52 and 53,thereby creating a bending of the swivel arms with a changeable angle α.A loading platform 25 can be, e.g., rigidly coupled via a rigid rod 59to a location 58 on connection 47 of the swivel arm, so that loadingplatform 25 maintains its horizontal position during swinging and, onaccount of its rigid connection, cannot proceed to swing. Thisarrangement is advantageous as compared to the embodiment depicted inFIG. 2 in which platform was suspended because a non-moving load iseasier to handle and poses less of an accident hazard. Thus, theparallelogram-like solution illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 represents apreferable arrangement.

[0062] The depicted swivel arms with their bending or curvaturegenerally allow for swivel arrangements to be coupled to pick-upvehicles without impairing the road worthiness of the vehicles, sincethe height of the swivel arms essentially corresponds to the height ofthe pick-up vehicle. Moreover, additional devices such as a cable winchare not necessary. A maximum height in the rest state can thus bedefined by the bending or curvature of the swivel arms. The swiveldevice, which can be provided at the factory as original equipment for apick-up vehicle or as a retrofit solution with a swivel device beingretrofitted onto an existing pick-up vehicle, enables a simple loadingof the cargo bed of the pick-up vehicle. Thus, loading with recreationalvehicles can be made particularly easier when the swivel deviceadditionally includes a loading platform which can be driven onto in itsloading position, especially when the platform is attached to aparallelogram-like structure that maintains the horizontal position ofthe platform during swiveling. Of course, instead of such a platform,any loads can be provided, such as large vessels or containers which canbe loaded or which can contain a device.

[0063] It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merelyfor the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed aslimiting of the present invention. While the present invention has beendescribed with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is understoodthat the words which have been used herein are words of description andillustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made,within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and asamended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the presentinvention in its aspects. Although the present invention has beendescribed herein with reference to particular means, materials andembodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to theparticulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends toall functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as arewithin the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A pick-up vehicle having an open cargo bed coupledto a passenger cab, side walls, a rear wall, and wheel wells located oneof inside and outside of the cargo bed, the pick-up vehicle comprising:a swivel device adapted for loading and unloading the open cargo bed;said swivel device comprising at least one swivel arm; at least oneconnecting bridge; and at least one movable connection piece, wherein aswivel axis of said swivel device is located between the rear wall andthe wheel wells, wherein said at least one swivel arm comprises swivelarms located on both sides of the cargo bed, and said at least oneconnecting bridge is positioned to couple said swivel arms to form aswivel yoke, and wherein said swivel device includes two swivel axeslocated one behind the other in a longitudinal direction of said vehicleand at a same height relative to said cargo bed, wherein a swivel arm isswivelably coupled around one of said two swivel axes, and wherein theswivel arms are coupled together through said at least one movableconnection piece, thereby forming a parallelogram-like swivel armstructure.
 2. The pick-up vehicle according to claim 1, wherein saidswivel yoke in a resting position forms a roll bar for the passengercab.
 3. The pick-up vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising atleast one load uptake device which is couplable to said movableconnection piece.
 4. The pick-up vehicle according to claim 3, furthercomprising at least one rigid suspension, wherein said at least one loaduptake device comprises a platform, and wherein said at least one rigidsuspension rigidly couples the platform to said movable connectionpiece.
 5. The pick-up vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said swivelaxes lie essentially on a plane of the cargo bed.
 6. The pick-up vehicleaccording to claim 1, wherein said swivel axes lie beneath a plane ofthe cargo bed.
 7. The pick-up vehicle according to claim 1, wherein atleast one of said swivel axes is raised compared to the cargo bed. 8.The pick-up vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said at least oneswivel arm comprises one of a curved and bent section along its length.9. The pick-up vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said at least oneswivel arm comprises a straight section, and said one of a curved andbent section is formed by said connection piece.
 10. The pick-up vehicleaccording to claim 1, wherein said at least one swivel arm comprises astraight section along its length.
 11. A swivel device for loading andunloading a pick-up vehicle, the pickup vehicle having an open cargo bedcoupled to a passenger cab, side walls, a rear wall, and wheel wellslocated one of inside and outside of the cargo bed, said swivel devicecomprising: at least one swivel arm; at least one connecting bridge; andat least one movable connection piece, wherein a swivel axis of saidswivel device is adapted to be located between the rear wall and thewheel wells, wherein said at least one swivel arm comprises swivel armslocated on both sides of the cargo bed, and said at least one connectingbridge is positioned to couple said swivel arms to form a swivel yoke,and wherein said swivel device includes two swivel axes located onebehind the other in a longitudinal direction of said vehicle and at asame height relative to said cargo bed, wherein a swivel arm isswivelably coupled around said two swivel axes, and wherein the swivelarms are coupled together through said at least one movable connectionpiece, thereby forming a parallelogram-like swivel arm structure. 12.The swivel device according to claim 11, said swivel device furthercomprising an hydraulic, electric, pneumatic, or hand-activated drivefor swiveling of the swivel yoke.
 13. The swivel device according toclaim 11, further comprising at least one load uptake device which iscouplable to said movable connection piece.
 14. The pick-up vehicleaccording to claim 13, further comprising at least one rigid suspension,wherein said at least one load uptake device comprises a platform, andwherein said at least one rigid suspension rigidly couples the platformto said movable connection piece.
 15. The swivel device according toclaim 11, further comprising a support bracket adapted to lie on thecargo bed and to provide said swivel axis.
 16. The swivel deviceaccording to claim 11, wherein said swivel axis is located about aportion of a chassis of the pick-up vehicle.
 17. The swivel deviceaccording to claim 11, wherein said at least one swivel arm comprises alongitudinally adjustable lifting arm.
 18. The pick-up vehicle accordingto claim 11, wherein said at least one swivel arm comprises one of acurved and bent section along its length.
 19. The pick-up vehicleaccording to claim 18, wherein said at least one swivel arm comprises astraight section, and said one of a curved and bent section is formed bysaid connection piece.
 20. The pick-up vehicle according to claim 11,wherein said at least one swivel arm comprises a straight section alongits length.
 21. A pick-up vehicle having an open cargo bed coupled to apassenger cab, side walls, a rear wall, and wheel wells located one ofinside and outside of the cargo bed, the pick-up vehicle comprising: aswivel device comprising at least four swivel arms swivelably coupled toa support device at first ends; a connecting bridge positioned to coupleat least two of said four swivel arms at ends opposite said first ends,which forms a swivelable yoke; two connection pieces for coupling theswivelable yoke to the other swivel arms at the ends opposite said firstends; and at least one load uptake device being rigidly coupled to saidtwo connection pieces, wherein said swivel arms are swivelablypositionable around swivel axes between a rest position in which saidswivel arms are substantially over the cargo bed and an extendedposition in which said arms extend out of the cargo bed in a directionof said rear wall, and wherein said swivel axes are located one behindthe other and at same heights relative to the cargo bed.
 22. The pick-upvehicle according to claim 21, wherein said support device is positionedabove a plane of said cargo bed.
 23. The pick-up vehicle according toclaim 21, wherein said support device is positioned below a plane ofsaid cargo bed.
 24. The pick-up vehicle according to claim 21, whereinsaid support device is positioned on a plane of said cargo bed.
 25. Thepick-up vehicle according to claim 21, further comprising a secondconnecting bridge positioned to couple said other swivel arms togetherat ends opposite said first ends, thereby forming a second swivelableyoke.
 26. The pick-up vehicle according to claim 25, wherein at leastone of said two connection pieces is arranged to couple the swivelableyoke to said second swivelable yoke at the ends opposite said firstends, and wherein said swivelable yoke and said second swivelable yokeare swivelably positionable between a rest position in which said swivelarms are substantially over the cargo bed and an extended position inwhich said swivel arms extend out of the cargo bed in a direction ofsaid rear wall.
 27. The pick-up vehicle according to claim 21, whereinat least two of said swivel arms comprise one of a curved and bentsection along its length.
 28. The pick-up vehicle according to claim 21,wherein at least two of said swivel arms comprise a straight section,and said connection piece comprises one of a curved and bent section.29. The pick-up vehicle according to claim 21, wherein at least two ofsaid swivel arms comprise a straight section along its length.
 30. Apick-up vehicle having an open cargo bed coupled to a passenger cab,side walls, a rear wall, and wheel wells located one of inside andoutside of the cargo bed, the pick-up vehicle comprising: a swiveldevice comprising at least four swivel arms swivelably coupled tosupport devices at first ends, wherein said at least four swivel armsare formed into at least two pairs swivelable around swivel axes; atleast one connecting bridge positioned to couple at least one of said atleast two pairs of swivel arms at ends opposite said first ends, whichforms at least one swivelable yoke; at least two connections forcoupling the at least one swivelable yoke to the other pair of swivelarms at the ends opposite said first ends; and at least one loaduplifting device being rigidly coupled to said at least two connections;wherein said at least one swivelable yoke and said other pair of swivelarms are swivelably positionable between a rest position in which saidswivel arms are substantially over the cargo bed and an extendedposition in which said swivel arms extend out of the cargo bed in adirection of said rear wall, and wherein said swivel axes arehorizontally spaced from each and arranged at same heights relative tothe cargo bed.
 31. The pick-up vehicle according to claim 30, whereinsaid support devices are positioned above a plane of said cargo bed. 32.The pick-up vehicle according to claim 30, wherein said support devicesare positioned below a plane of said cargo bed.
 33. The pick-up vehicleaccording to claim 30, wherein said support devices are positioned on aplane of said cargo bed.
 34. The pick-up vehicle according to claim 30,wherein said at least one connecting bridge comprises at least twoconnecting bridges positioned to couple said at least two pairs ofswivel arms at ends opposite said first ends, which forms at least twoswivelable yokes; and at least two connections for coupling the twoswivelable yokes together at the ends opposite said first ends, whereinsaid at least two swivelable yokes are swivelably positionable between arest position in which said swivel arms are substantially over the cargobed and an extended position in which said swivel arms extend out of thecargo bed in a direction of said rear wall.
 35. The pick-up vehicleaccording to claim 30, wherein said at least four swivel arms comprisestraight sections.
 36. The pick-up vehicle according to claim 30,wherein said at least four swivel arms comprise at least one of bent andcurved sections.
 37. The pick-up vehicle according to claim 30, whereinat least two of said at least four swivel arms comprise a straightsection, and said at least two connections comprise one of a curved andbent section.